BLACKBIRD THRUSH. 



(Turdus Merula.) 



Tu. ater rostro palpebris pedibusquejklvis. 



Black Thrush, with the beak, eye-lids, and feet fulvous. 



Turdus Merula. Lin. Syst. Nat. 1. 295. 22. — Lin, Faun. Suec. 



220,— Gmel. Syst. Nat. 1. 831.— ^m^. 2. 22/. lO.^Lath. 



Ind, Orn. 1. 340. 50.—Turt. Brit. Faun. 1. 36. 65. 

 Merle. Buff. Hist. Nat. Ois. 3. 330. t. 20.— Buff. PL Enl. 2. 



male 555. female. 

 Blackbird. Pen. Brit. ZooL lOp. 47. — Pen. Arct. Zool. 2. 



345. 1. — Albin. Birds. 1. 57. — Letvin. Brit. Birds, 2. 6l. — 



Lath, Gen, Syn, 3. 43. 46.— Lath, Syn. Sup. 141. 46.— Mont, 



Brit. Birds, 1. — Betvick, Brit. Birds. 1. g4. 



This well-known bird is about ten inches in 

 length : the male is entirely of a deep black when 

 arrived at maturity: the beak and orbits of the 

 eyes are yellow: the females and young birds are 

 of a dark rusty brown, with dusky beaks and eye- 

 lids : it varies in having the head, part of the 

 wings, and behind the eyes, white ; also in being 

 wholly of a pure white ; and again is found varie- 

 gated with black and white. 



Its song is a shrill kind of whistle of various 

 notes, which it commences early in the spring, 

 and is very loud ; it may be taught to whistle a 

 variety of tunes, and will even imitate the human 

 voice : it begins to build very early : its nest is com- 

 posed of green moss, fibrous roots, and such-like 

 materials 5 the inside^ is plaistered with earth, and 

 lined with fine dry grass ; it is generally placed in 



V. X. p. I. 15 



